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Romeo Lavia has been a rarity for Southampton as the teenage midfielder has had a decisive season in the Premier League.
The 19-year-old has been touted for stepping away from the south coast in this window of movement, even though he only signed for Manchester City’s Saints last summer.
Southampton’s descent has sparked interest from elite groups in the smarter flight, with Liverpool claiming to have noticed a £37 million opening offer turned down. The Reds are expected to return with a revised opening offer.
Kopites may not have noticed much of the Belgian foreigner last season, but he showed star quality at St. Mary’s. We spoke to Southampton journalist Mark Wyatt about our sister name, HampshireLive, to get a sense of how Lavia can also be compatible with Liverpool’s midfield.
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What of a midfielder is Lavia?
MW: Lavia, an incredibly comfortable defensive midfielder in ball possession, is a fashionable number 6. He has the ability to resist pressure and carry the ball gradually, while being just close to help him get out of difficult situations.
How impressive for Southampton?
MW: During a depressing season, Lavia stood out as a player who rarely got her foot wrong. Perhaps the consistent poor performances of those around him helped the Belgian look even better, but he did not take the time to settle into the team and be able to bet at the highest level.
When he injured his hamstring last August and missed 8 games, the Saints had just five problems. In the first five games of the season before the injury, they had racked up seven problems and Lavia had been the winner of the attack by beating Chelsea 2-1 at St Mary’s. His reliance on an 18-year-old without a single season of senior football has temporarily become telling.
Areas for improvement?
MW: Apart from that opposite goal to Chelsea, Lavia doesn’t contribute much in the most sensitive part of the pitch. He is still young and therefore has plenty of time to dominate games more as he grows up, but he is the most productive defensive midfielder on aggregate as Rodri and Casemiro give a contribution for purposes and they deserve to be all he can look to improve.
What is Southampton in Lavia?
MW: Enthusiasts are almost absolutely resigned to wasting Lavia this summer, but they are also convinced that the club will get the value they need for him. £15 million as a direct replacement.
Are you in a position to make the leap to Liverpool’s midfield?
Given your age, this is the most productive time to move to a great team where you can become one of the most productive in the world in a truly elitist environment.